Brownstone Trail
Brownstone Trail
4
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
53 reviews
Excellent
25
Very good
16
Average
8
Poor
3
Terrible
1
Madge H
Clarksdale, MS29 contributions
Aug 2022 • Solo
The Brownstone Trail part that was open near Bayfield wasn’t worth the time and not especially picturesque. Big disappointment. Detour wasn’t clearly marked so wandered a bit. Eventually bailed and headed over to the Gil Larsen Nature/Iron Bridge/Big Ravine trails on other end of town and they were wonderful! Highly recommend. I went meandering in a forested area alongside a brook which I crossed many times. Lovely. No bugs either.
Written August 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MadisonGrog
Madison, WI325 contributions
Aug 2022
Not sure what the fuss is about this. From downtown it only goes to Seagull Bay motel and then is blocked. The lake views are nothing special. For a lovely walk, go down to Washburn and take the lake trail there. MUCH better!
Written August 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
M-F_Trackers
Philadelphia, PA437 contributions
May 2021
This is a well maintained trail except for 0.5 mile section closed by a landslide. You need to walk out on Rt. 23. Wild flowers just starting to bloom. Peak through the trees and view at lake and boats. We walked at 6PM and saw no one.
Written June 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
parksvisitor
Maple Grove, MN1,469 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
We saw that the trail had a detour when we began our hike in Bayfield, and the portion of the trail prior to the detour was nice enough, with views of the lake and marina. The detour was a whole lot of nothing. You could see where the closed part of the trail seemed to offer some great views of the lake, but all we saw on the detour was trees and people's houses. We turned around fairly quickly. Skip this until the trail is restored and reopened.
Written May 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
flippy
1 contribution
Jul 2021 • Family
Used to be a very nice trail but closed because they won’t fix the wash out from a storm years ago. I think property owners don’t want it fixed. They have detours going on the Highway. Don’t waste your time on this trail lots more that are better!
Written October 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zombienic
Minnesota2,014 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
We stayed at Seagull Bay so we used this Trail to go into town every day. It was much nicer than taking the streets which we did one time. No hills on The Brownstone Trail haha! It is still closed right when you get below the motel. So we didn't go the opposite direction. But it was convenient (and shaded!) for what we needed it for. No pretty views, just an easier no traffic way to the shops and restaurants.
Written June 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
volkswagendriver
Oshkosh, WI197 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
Anyone can hike this trail, it's an old railroad line so the grade is very flat and you get peek a boo views of the lake thru the trees. We stay at the Seagull Bay Motel so this is an easy way for us to walk to and from town.
Written June 24, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lynn8894
Charlotte, NC94 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
You have to love a community that has the drive and foresight to create public access to a magnificent lakefront trail. This trail wends along the shore, and then into the woods where generous homeowners have given permission for the trail to run through their neighborhoods. It begins in downtown Bayfield, a gem of a little town.
Written October 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anita W
Tulsa, OK223 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
We thoroughly enjoyed our walk down the well-maintained trail, looking at wildflowers and peeking through the trees to see Lake Superior. Public directions to the trail led us to driveways and docks, howeverer. Here’s the deal, in town, the trail begins on the southwest corner of South Third Street and Wilson Ave. There’s a government office just east on Wilson. There’s a gazebo marking the entrance to the trail. Before or after your walk, go across Wilson to a lovely garden planted around ships and canoes—charming.
Written September 14, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andy M
Appleton, WI59 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
It is very cool that some private owners allow this trail to pass along their properties, because it would be a shame to not have it available. The walk overlooks the Bay at many points, but one of the most interesting things is to see the amazing homes and cottages along the way. Much of the walk is shaded by fairly dense trees, and it is mostly hard surface and gravel. We had some difficultly locating the southern end of the trail, butte northern end was easy to find. There is some signage where the trail makes transitions that really helps you know where to go. Very clean - we did not see any litter at all!
Written August 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are you allowed to bike on the Brownstone Trail? We are looking to use our mountain bikes as much as possible when we stay at Bayfield Inn in August this summer.
Written May 2, 2017
Hi, what would you like to know about this attraction?
Written May 2, 2017
Is there a place within walking distance from ferry to rent bicycles or scooters?
Written July 11, 2016
When we spent a week in Bayfield (end of June), we didn't really look for bicycles to rent, but we did come across a small shop on Manypenny Avenue that daily brought bicycles outside and lined up for rental and service. Didn't stop and really check to see what the pricing was for rental. The shop was right next to a restaurant that we ate at twice (Maggies) that was a good restaurant (especially the fresh white fish - if you like seafood). We took the Brownstone trail from our motel and it was literally 5 - 10 minutes to Maggies & that bike shop. From the bike shop, probably 10-15 minute walk to the ferry area. Everything is really within walking distance around the Bayfield waterfront and the couple of marinas/harbors. At nite, it was really nice walking from town back to the motel with a full moon coming off lake superior. If you are planning on visiting that area, I would recommend it. We went on a sunset sail, went to the sea caves by water and hiked, took the water tour around all the islands.
We didn't take the ferry to Madeline island, but I know you can rent bikes, mopeds on the island as well. I believe it is like a 15-20 minute ferry ride and runs pretty continuous from 7 - ??? probably at this point in the summer.
Written July 14, 2016
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